chaPter - v

test For the advanceMent oF a rover asPirant

You will now start your preparation for your investiture as a Rover for being admitted to the brotherhood of Rovers. The following are the rules for this :

A Rover Aspirant who has been a scout or who on admission as a Rover Aspirant passes the Pravesh Badge Tests shall wear the uniform of a Rover.

tests for Pravesh Badge

1. Understand and appreciate the contents of “Scouting for Boys” and books on Rovering prescribed by the sponsors. 2. Know the principles and programme of Rovering and show preparedness to try to live the Law as interpreted for Rovers and keep the Promise. 3. If a young man has never been a scout and wishes to join the crew afresh he should qualify for the pravesh tests of the Scout

Section and work at least for 3 months as an Aspirant Rover. 4. Undergo a period of probation as decided by the Crew

Council.

note

(a) On completion of the tests to the satisfaction of the Rover

Scout Leader the Rover Aspirant shall be invested as a Rover

on making or reaffirming the Scout Promise at an Investiture

Ceremony after the “Vigil” See appendix for details. (b) The Pravesh Badge is a cloth badge with a red background and the fleur-de-lis in yellow superimposed by the trefoil with the Ashoka Chakra also in yellow, in the centre. It is worn in uniform in the middle of the left pocket of the shirt, or at the same place on the jersey. (c) This membership badge is issued by the Local or District

Association as the case may be on the recommendation of the

Rover Scout Leader.

In your advancement as an aspirant, the sponsors and the Rover Scout Leader will guide you and help you.

The following may prove helpful to you in this.

study of ‘scouting for Boys’

You should work on this closely with your sponsors, You Should go through the book chapter by chapter and try to learn the Scout Craft technique as much as you can. You should remember that your future Scouting will depend mostly on your knowledge of Scout-craft given in your book. Occasionally during your training as a Rover, The Crew may embark on a project in which knowledge gained by you from ‘Scouting for Boys’ will be found useful.

Your Rover/Crew may be holding occasional discussions on certain portion or activities given in this book and must take active part in these discussions.

You have to grasp the underlying spirit of this book and you have to make a sincere effort to put this spirit into action in your daily life.

As a Rover Aspirant you have to study and understand the Scout Law and the Promise as they concern the Rovers.

Principles and programme of rovering (see chapter - 1)

If you have not been a Scout before, then you will have to pass the Pravesh badge test for Scouts.

Pravesh Requirement for Scout are :

1. have a general knowledge of the scout Movement.

Know from your sponsors about the founder Lord Baden Powell, be acquainted with the fundamentals of the Movement which he had laid down in his basic books. Know the history of the Movement and its international aspect.

2. the scout law and the Promise

The Scout Promise and law are the foundation of the Movement. By making the promise a person become bound by the promise to act in a particular way. The making of the promise is the outward sign of your intention to do the things contained in the promise.

The founder has given the following interpretation of the Promise and Law which the young men are expected to follow:

the scout law

The term Rover Scout Stands for a trueman and a good citizen. The law for Rovers is the same as for scouts in working and principal but has to viewed from a new stand point, i.e., from that of a man. In both cases the principal underlying the Scout law knocks out self and shoves in goodwill and helpfulness to others. It is a direction to manliness.

(1). a scout is trustworthy :

When a youngman has taken the promise he can be trusted, he will not tell lies. He will endeavour to put into practice his duty to God and will help other people in his daily life. Similarly as a Rover no temptation, however great or however secret will persuade him to do a dishonest or shady action however, small he does not go back on a promise once made. A rover’s word is as good as his bond. The Truth and nothing but the truth for the Rover.

(2). a scout is loyal :

As a good citizen you are one of a team “playing the game” honestly for the good of the whole. You can be relied upon to do your best for others. You must stick to them through thick & thin against any one who is considered an enemy or who even talk badly of you.

(3). a scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout :

Thus, if a Scout meets another Scout, even though a stranger to him, he must speak to him and help him in any way that he can

either to carry out the duty he then doing or by giving him food, or as far as possible anything that he may be in want of A Scout must never be a snob. A snob is one who looks down upon another because he is poor, or who is poor and resents another because he is rich.

A Scout accepts the other man as he finds him, and makes the best of him.

“Kim,“ the boy Scout was called by the Indian “Little Friend of the World”, and that is the name every Scout should earn for himself.

(4). a scout is courteous :

That he is polite to all but specially to woman and children, and old people and invalids, disabled etc. And he must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.

(5). a scout is a friend to animals and loves nature :

A Scout has faith in God and respect God’s creation - nature and animals. He takes care of animals, birds and tries to save them from danger and enemies. He does not kill any animal unnecessarily, unless it is endangering one’s life. He loves nature, the creation of God, trees, plants, flowers, etc. He does not harm them and will try to protect them.

(6). a scout is disciplined and helps project public property :

Even if he gets an order he does not like, he must do as soldiers and sailors do, or as he would do for his Captain in a football team - he must carry out the order all the same, because it is his duty, and after he has done it he can come and state any reasons against it, but he must carry out the order at once- that is discipline. Public property is meant for the benefit of all in general and any loss to it will be a loss to all of us and in particular to the country. Hense a Scout helps to protect the public property and tries to prevent any damage to it. He sets an example to others also to protect public property.

(7). a scout is courageous :

When he gets an order he should obey it cheerfully and readily, not in a slow, hang-dog sort of way.

Scout never grouse at hardships, nor while at each other, not swear when put out, but go on whistling and smiling.

When you just miss a train, or some one treads on your favourite corn-or under annoying circumstances, you should force yourself to smile at once then whistle a tune and you will be all right.

The punishment for swearing or using bad language is for each offence a mug of cold water to be poured down the offender’s sleeve by the other scouts It was the punishment invented by the old British Scout, Captain John Smith, three hundred years ago.

(8). a scout is thrifty :

That is, he saves every penny he can, and puts it into the bank, so that he may have money to keep himself when out of work and thus not make himself a burden to others; or he may have money to give away to others when they need it.

(9). a scout is pure in thought, word and deed :

• That is he looks down upon a silly youth, who talks dirt and he does not let himself give way to temptation either to talk, or to think, or to do any thing dirty. • A scout is pure and clean minded and manly. o-o-o 3. The Scout Motto, Sign, Salute and Left Hand Shake. 4. Cultivate the habit of doing at least one Good turn a day and keep a record of your Good turn. 5. Know the parts of the scout uniform and how to wear it. 6. Know the composition and significance of the National Flag.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides Flag and the World Scout Flag. 7. Your sponsors or any Rover Mate of your crew or your Rover

Scout Leader can help you in this.

Period oF ProBation

The Crew Council fixes a period of probation for you. During the period, you prepare yourself for your investiture as a Rover. This probationary period may be extended by the Crew Council on the recommendation of the Rover Scout Leader based on the advice of your sponsors. The main purpose of this probationary period is to enable you to attain certain standards of Scout craft, moral conduct and the “scout spirit”.

Another purpose of this is to enable the Rover Scout Leader to determine whether you would fit into the Crew life and whether

the Crew will fulfil your needs; and also it is a duration given to you to decide whether Rovering suits you or not. Normally the probationary period may not go beyond six months.

During the probationary period, you are expected to attend all meeting of the Crew and take part in all its activities. When planning and executing the Crew Activities on the agenda you may be called to attend the Crew council meetings, in order to provide you an experience in the working of the Crew.

The founder has said, ”Rovers are a Jolly brotherhood of the Open Air and Service. They are Hikers on the open Road and Campers of the woods, able to shift for themselves but equally able and ready to be of some service to others”

You as a Rover Aspirant have to take interest in out-door aspect of this programme and ultimately have to gain skills which will make you efficient in the out-of-door. Hiking is a very interesting and useful activity for young men with this purpose and ultimately you train yourself to be a good camper. The founder, himself was a good camper and about his camps in different parts of the world he has stated :

“You have there the joys of camping almost at your door, at the least possible cost in money, time and trouble.

Out of the stuffy smoke and second-hand air of the noisy town you have stepped out into the freshening breezes of the open downs and drinking deep of the pure air you gain new blood in your veins and new life in your brains.

And as you swing along with the untiring stride of perfect fitness you know the joy of living. Over hill and dale, with changing beauties of scenery at every step you feel a free man. The view is yours to gaze upon, you’re to go and free to stay and free to pitch your lodging where you feel inclined.

Whether you prefer solitary hiking or tramping in company depends on your personal temperment - and temper.

There is no pleasure that comes near to that of preparing your own meal over your little fire of wood embers at the end of the day and no scent like the smell of that fire.

There is no view’ like that from your lair on the woodland hillside. And there is no sleep like that in the open with a warm

blanket or a good thickness of paper beneath you (More under than above you “is the tramps secret for laying warm O’nights).

The sounds of the night and the companionship of the beasts and the birds make you feel a comrade of them all in the Brothership of Nature.

Rain? Cold? Yes. I Suppose they come, but you really get to disregard them when you are in the regular swing and habit of week-end camping.

Whether you are a lone hiker or whether you camp with a companion or in company with a Patrol of pals, it is all good.

With the opening of a new and human side to your character you can, if you will, make your hiking into the wandering of a knighterrants by being a doer of good turns to all and sundry as you go along”.

If you have been a Scout before, you must have had the pleasure of hiking with your Troop. But if you have not been a Scout before, it would be good to take your sponsor with you on your first adventure. He will be able to give you may useful hints on how you can enjoy your hiking. He will also be able to give you many good hints on how to write a good log-which you are expected to give to your Rover Scout Leader on the completion of the hike.

You have to approach this requirement gradually. Satisfactory skill in hiking and camping cannot be attained over night. It is much better for you to make a number of hikes, starting out with one day ventures covering a relatively short distance. You should keep a log of all your trips, no matter how short or long the hike may be.